Carmen Sandiego: To Steal or Not to Steal (2020)

Carmen Sandiego: To Steal or Not to Steal is special because it doesn’t just ask you to watch Carmen outsmart V.I.L.E.—it hands you the wheel and lets your choices shape the adventure, turning a slick animated caper into a playful, living story. The vibe is breezy and globe-trotting, full of charming character beats, quick humor, and the kind of clean, kinetic action that makes Shanghai feel like a toybox of intrigue. It’s consistently entertaining, with interactive decisions that keep the pace snappy and the tension light, making it an easy win for families and fans of the series alike. If you prefer a purely passive movie experience you may find the branching format a little gimmicky, but for anyone willing to lean in, it’s an engaging, amusing treat—with a bonus moment that feels like a little extra dessert after the main course.

Carmen Sandiego: To Steal or Not to Steal is clearly trying to turn the series into a kid-friendly, choose-your-own-adventure caper where you feel like part of the heist. The problem is that many “choices” barely matter, so the interactivity can start to feel like a gimmick rather than a genuinely immersive experience. The plot itself is pretty thin and doesn’t lean much into the franchise’s old educational spark, which may leave longtime fans a bit underfed. If you’re watching with younger kids or you just want a breezy Carmen fix with slick animation and familiar characters, it’s fine—but if you want meaningful branching paths or a smarter mystery, this likely won’t satisfy.